Eva Habib: AUC's First Female Graduate

This is a documentary about Eva Habib, the first female to enter AUC. It gives some parts of her life at AUC and shows the impact this had on her life.

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Video Promo Script:

Eva Habib
Elsharif
5/02/10

Music: Fade in Abd el Halim “wehyat alby” from the beginning

Basma: Eva Habib, the first female to enter AUC did more than just make history, she paved the way for all females who enter the university today. (8 seconds)

S.B. Nisreen: “ She talked before about her experience on her first day and wanting to turn back and go home, but in the end her pride won and she stuck to it, and I think that many women in her shoes would have turned back. It is hard enough thinking about your first day at college, but imagine being the only woman too. (19 seconds)

Music: Fade out wehyat alby at 30 seconds

Audio Promo Script:

Eva Habib audio
Elsharif
05/02/10

Music: Fade in Elhawa hawaya music from 5 seconds

Basma: Eva Habib pushed the boundaries of her time, and because of her achievements became a vital part of AUC history. (7 seconds)

Nisreen S.B.: She was a revolutionary. Can you imagine being the first woman to enter a university with all men and come out being the valedictorian? She was truly an inspiration, and someone we can all look up to. (15 seconds)

Basma: Come attend the Listening Sessions, at AUC's New Cairo campus on Sunday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 19 at 10 a.m. each day in the BEC building, room 1061. (10 seconds)

Music: Fade out Elhawa hawaya music at 35 seconds

Need to Chill!

Lately I have been noticing things that really get on my nerves. Maybe it has to do with the increased stress because of upcoming graduation, or maybe I am just being picky. I have made a list of a few things that really push my buttons, and I think that most of you can relate.

• When people continuously honk their horns even though there is clearly no where you can go


• When random people keep adding me on facebook and send me mail as if I am going to reply.


• When you are having a really important phone conversation and suddenly your credit runs out right in the middle of it.


• When people ask for your advice then do the exact opposite of what you say.


• When you suddenly realize that you have an assignment due the next day which you completely forgot about because you have been working on the million other things you have.


• People who take forever to get to the point of what they are trying to say


• People who I do not know or particularly like and you know they feel the same but they have to pretend to be extremely nice and fake.
  

Feel free to add on to the list!

McDreamy vs. McSteamy

Imagine yourself as Meredith Grey, sitting in Seattle Grace Hospital with McDreamy (Derek Shepherd) and McSteamy (Mark Sloan) walking up and down the halls every day. Grey’s Anatomy has presented many girls, such as myself, with this impossible question, who would you choose? Both are ruggedly handsome and incredibly successful Dr.’s but is it even possible to tell who is hotter?

Derek Shepherd, the dream guy for millions of girls and a brain surgeon no less. Perfect face, perfect job, incredibly handsome and not to mention has hair that any guy would kill for. His devotion to Meredith Grey, no matter how many times she rejects him or pushes him away due to her dark and twisted life, makes him that much more charming.

Mark Sloan, a plastic surgeon with a face that is a work of art. Although calling him promiscuous would be an understatement, you can’t help but fall for his charm and his incredible looks. But even a guy like McSteamy is capable of settling down when he finds the right girl (Lexi Grey a.k.a Little Grey).

So who would you choose? Personally I am a McDreamy fan. His kindness, caring, skill as a surgeon, and of course his hair are enough to give him a small advantage over McSteamy in my eyes.

Fashion and Health: Does Beauty have to be Pain?

FASHION AFFECT HEALTH
ELSHARIF
4/21/10

Lead-in:
Today’s fashion, like skinny jeans and designer hand bags, can have a negative impact on your health. A-U-C’s Basma Elsharif has this report.

High heels, designer bags, strait leg jeans. For many girls following the latest fashion trends is a must, but at what cost? Increasingly, fashion is becoming more harmful to girl’s health. Heels have become higher, shirts have become tighter and through it all some girls follow religiously what the fashion industry deems as style. (23 seconds)

Voicer: A lack of awareness of these health risks may be part of the reason why some girls continue to sport these trends. Yara Saaed, a self proclaimed fashion enthusiast, disregards these warnings. (11 seconds)

Yara S.B.: “I am like any other girl, all of us follow fashion, and it is really fashionable now to wear heels and big bags. Maybe I have heard it once or twice that wearing heels can hurt your back, but I don’t think it’s that big a deal. I don’t think it’s that serious.” (15 seconds)

Voicer: Large bags have been established as a must have accessory by the fashion industry despite the fact that they may cause poor balance, and misalignment of the spine. Stilettos and pumps, a staple in any girl’s wardrobe, do not only cause painful calluses, but they also can change your posture, cause back pains, and increase the risk of getting knee osteoarthritis. Tight shirts and corset tops can cause shortness of breath. And for those unsightly spider veins which might be creeping up on your legs, you can thank your skin tight strait leg jeans. (36 seconds)

Voicer: Recently some designers have begun taking into account women’s health when creating their designs. Noha Kamel is a young designer, who hopes to show girls that fashion does not always have to be painful. (14 seconds)

Noha S.B.: “I took a number of courses in fashion before and I decided that the clothes I make for women should be comfortable and fashionable at the same time. I saw a number of women trying to wear two sizes too small for them, not knowing the effect that this has on their health. Fashion does not mean cramming yourself into tight clothes, you can be cute and comfortable while keeping up with the trends.” ( 23 seconds).

Voicer: The influence of fashion has spread farther than just eating disorders. We are now seeing that the actual clothes we wear cause harm to our bodies. Whether or not the harm done will increase, does not have to depend on what the fashion industry will churn out next. (16 seconds)

Voicer: There are ways to avoid the negative effects of fashion. Opt for flat or low shoes as opposed to high heels. If you choose to wear a big bag then swap between shoulders while carrying it. Avoid squeezing into shirts or pants that are too tight. Keeping a realistic body image will help girls pick suitable styles which are comfortable and trendy. ( 26 seconds)
Basma Elsharif, A-U-C News.

Listening Journal 4: Dreams From my mother

The documentary I listened to was called Dreams from My Mother. It was produced by BBC World Service and it was narrated by Judith Kampfner. The total length of this documentary was 23 minutes.

This documentary basically discussed a part of President Barack Obama’s life that has not been focused on before and that is his life with his mother, Ann Dunham, and the influence she had on him. The documentary discussed his life in Indonesia with her along with what happened when he left to go live in Hawaii again, all the while keeping the focus of the story on Ann. It showed her life, her ambitions, and through that the listener could see the values she wanted to implement in her son.

Despite the length of this documentary it was very intriguing to listen to. The first thing that made the documentary interesting was the use of soundbites from people who knew Ann, and who were also very good story tellers. Obama’s own voice was also used as sound bites describing various locations and also describing his life and his mother, and that made the documentary even more interesting. Also the use of nat sound in different locations in order to compliment what the narrator was saying was very effective. All of the sound quality was clear and it did not interfere with what the narrator was saying.

The narrator’s voice and speed was perfect for the documentary. She told the story well through her speech, and also her emotions came through because she made reference to the fact that she too lived in an area similar to the one where Obama grew up and where part of the story took place. I think that the fact that the narrator could relate this story to her own story showed through her presentation, and this made the listener interested and not bored despite the length.

Overall this documentary was very good and the perfect length in order to tell the story well.

Weekend from Heaven, Week from Hell

This weekend was fantastic to say the least!! I had a great outing with some friends, and we hadn’t gone out in a really long time. Then on Saturday one of my best and sweetest friends, Nahla Bahgat, got married!! She looked stunning in her dress and I really could not be happier for her. It was a perfect night for a perfect bride.

And now midterms have begun and my fantastic weekend is leading into a horrible week. Papers, exams, and projects seem to be popping out of nowhere.Not to mention the deadlines for submitting graduation things which no one seems to want to mention to me, so I just happen to find these things out. The days seem to be dragging on as spring break approaches, and at this point the thought of having a break is the only thing that’s keeping me going. Well, it really isn’t a vacation for me, I won’t be getting up early to go to college, instead I will be getting up early to finish all the projects and studying I have to do!

It is times like these that make me wish graduation would hurry up and come. And staring that the 109 pages that have to be finished before tomorrow’s exam, I realized that my mind is already on vacation.

Dalia Fares: A New Age Mom

Dalia Fares is a symbol for successful, intelligent women who chose to give up careers and become stay at home mothers. Despite her promising potential in the field of Business administration, she chose a different path and in this interview I want to find out why.

When you think about your life, what do you feel gives you the biggest satisfaction?

When you say stereotypically life would expect of you, what kind of life do you mean?

How would you say that being a mother is more important than being a big manager in a big multinational company?

How would you say that it is your role to create these people? Couldn't teachers or nurseries do this sort of thing? Why would you have to be a stay at home mom to do it?

What sort of dreams do you hold for your children, is there anything that you hope or aspire for them to be?

Do you not feel that by your presence around your children all the time that your overbearing them or not giving them their own life?

If there was one certain value that you wish to instill in your child's life, what would it be?

Podcast: Whatever happened to when a BlackBerry was a fruit

Facebook, Twitter, BBM. All of these forms of communication are a part of our everyday lives now. We use them almost without thinking, and check them obsessively throughout the day. A few years back you were considered out of the loop if you didn’t have a cell phone. Now if you do not have a facebook account, you are considered behind the times.

All of these social networks and communication tools are very useful in keeping in touch and knowing what is going on in the world, but increasingly I feel like I am isolated from people because of these things. Instead of calling my friends I will BBM or chat with them. Instead of going out I just sit around on facebook all day.

There is no doubt that these social networks are important, but are they making us lose touch with the people who we are close to? Even when I am out with friends, everyone is BBMing or talking on the phone. We are out and sitting together, but we are usually not really paying much attention to each other. I do not deny the importance of being able to access information on demand, but there is a price to pay for that also.

Maybe I am overly simplistic and nostalgic of old times but I really miss when me and my friends would sit together and enjoy each other’s company, without having all the technology between us. Not only that, but I feel like my increasing dependency on communicating through technology instead of face to face, has caused me many problems with friends. A lot of times they way I say something is misinterpreted because there is no body language.

Times have obviously changed now that hanging out with friends means sitting with them but chatting with other friends on your phone or laptop. I am not immune to this fad because I myself have a BlackBerry. But I do make a point of not using it when around friends. Sometimes I miss the days when a blackberry was just a fruit.

Podcast: The Secret is really the key to having it all

I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about the book The Secret. The power of positive thinking in order to get what you want in life seemed like a big sham to me, just a way for someone to make money of off people silly enough to believe it. I am not a completely negative person, but it seemed a bit farfetched that if I think of something all the time then it will come to me.

Recently, however, I have become more of a believer in the power of positive thinking. I do not mean this in a sense of any supernatural forces or anything like that, just simply that if I think positively about something and if I want it bad enough then I can get it.

It takes a lot for someone to keep thinking about something without for one second hesitating or thinking they may not be able to achieve it. For example, I know a guy who wanted to be a millionaire, which seemed like a far off dream for someone like him, not only because of his fairly modest income, but also because he was never a high achiever at school. However, he disregarded everyone’s criticisms and kept his dream in focus. And now at the age of 36 he has his dream and a Mercedes and a few villas to go along with it.

I do not think that life is all about luck, or living the hand we have been dealt. I think that we can make our own luck sometimes. When someone knows what they really want, and focus all their energy at attaining it, without thinking of the negativity, then all they see in front of them is the path that leads to their dream. I think that this is the key for someone to get to where they want; focusing on your dream without putting an option for failure. So no, I no longer think that The Secret is a sham. I actually recommend that everyone read it, so they realize they have control over their own lives.

The end of one chapter...

As my time as an undergraduate at AUC winds down, my life is getting more and more hectic. Friends getting married, graduation stuff to do, exams, and papers for courses are all things that I have on my list. But lately I have taken some time out to think about the past four years and I realized how much I would miss these years.

I remember my first day at college, not knowing anybody having just come from the States, and terrified at the idea of starting all over in a new country. My first memory at AUC was walking into the freshman advising office, and knocking down a little cat figurine and the pencil holder off of my advisors desk. Thankfully my day only started bad, but it ended with me getting to know friends which I will know for the rest of my life.

As I look back I realize I would not change this experience for anything. I have unforgettable memories and friends that stuck by me through all of the messes I seemed to get myself into. Everyone always told me that college years will be the best of my life, and I realize this now that it is winding down to a close.

The late nights studying and the times when I thought that I really could not get done with all of the things that needed to be done seem so far away now. The idea of me finally going out into “the real world” and starting to make a living on my own is starting to scare me! It is hard for me to imagine my life without due dates and exam schedules and sitting in lectures. Now that I am nearly at the end I wish time would slow down, but a part of me is still looking forward to what’s to come.

Listening Journal: Dressy Girls

The documentary I listened to was Called Dressy Girls. It was produced and narrated by Lena Eckert-Erdheim. The total length of the documentary was 8 minutes and 10 seconds.

This documentary was taking a look at how and why some girls dress the way they do. Lena chose to interview several girls who dress in a provocative way, asking them what their reasoning was behind dressing the way they do. She also compared many of the things they wore to fashion advice aimed at teen girls in Seventeen Magazine.

This documentary was very interesting and a real eye-opener. It was presented in such a way, that it really showed what some girls would go through to get attention, and this was done through Lena’s excellent choice of soundbites. The soundbites were also complimented by Lena’s narration of parts of Seventeen Magazine, where the fashion advice mirrored what the girls were wearing.

The sound quality was good with everything being clear and concise. However, there was no use of nat sound, only soundbites, and I think that with a documentary such as this one the use of nat sound would not have only been easy, but also enhanced the piece very much. The sound of the girls in high school, at the mall, or runway sounds could have all been used to enhance the documentary.

The narrator’s voice was very suitable, however, her tone was sometimes very sarcastic, and it seemed that she was portraying too much of her own opinion. However, her voice was good for the narration because it went well with the story and she sounded young which would appeal to the target audience. The writing quality was not too sophisticated; however, it got the message across clearly. For example, Lena would often compare what the girls said with something written in Seventeen Magazine, and this was a good way to get her point across about girls following the trend. Her writing was simple and to the point, which was what made it effective.

Also, the writing included comparisons between what the narrator was wearing and what the other girls were wearing. This was interesting and effective because it further emphasized her point to the the listener that some girls only think about dressing to impress boys, while others do not really care about it.

The documentary was just the right length. It began strongly by having a lot of soundbites by some girls telling what they were wearing, and all of the sounds overlapped. However, I felt like the ending could have been stronger had the narrator not concluded it using her own voice. I think it would have been better had she used a nat sound or soundbite.

American Heart Association PSA

National Contact: Nicole Thurston; nicolethurston.abdou@yahoo.com

Organization: American Heart Association

Contact Info: www.americanheart.org

Heading: Start! Your life again in 2010

Airdate: March 2010- May 2010

Duration: 30 seconds

Music: Fade In “young folks” (from beginning)

Basma: Say goodbye to lazy and tired employees for good by joining the American Heart Association’s Start! Program.

Basma: Who says that your job has to be all work and no play? With the Start! Program your tasks and errands will be a way for you and your employees to start losing weight. Healthier snacks, walking paths, and newsletters turn any normal workplace into a heart healthy environment.

Manar: Join the American Heart Association in our fight to stop heart disease. Make this the year where you keep your resolution to live a better, healthier life so you can start again in 2010.

Music: Fade out “young folks” (30 seconds)

Listening Journal 2: NPR news

In the NPR newscast the presenter was Renita Jablonski. She simply stated her name and began her story which was good because it was direct and to the point.

The newscast began talking about Obama and one of his many policies. Obama was the main subject of the first two stories, one talking about health and the other about energy issues. Then it was followed by Hillary Clinton and the Chile earthquake issue. Then there was a Wall Street story. Then it ended with more financial stories.

The NPR story in total was 4 minutes 46 seconds. I found it to be extremely dry and boring. The presenters along with all of the reporters were very monotonous, and they did not catch my attention as a listener. Also, it seemed like in many of the reports such as in the Wall Street story used information that was very boring and dry and not appealing to the audience. The only soundbite used was that by the President Obama discussing his policies, and the rest was either the presenter talking or the reporters.

Although the quality of sound was good, there were a few problems. First of all, the anchor stuttered a few times in the story. Also, her tone along with all of the reporters was not captivating and it did not sustain my attention. Also, the newscast itself was not diversified enough, and the news was presented in a very uninteresting way. There was no nat sound used, which made this newscast even more boring.

Overall, I felt that this newscast was long even though it was less than 5 minutes. I think that a lot of elements could have been added, such as nat sound, to make the stories more rich and interesting to the listeners.

Listening journal 2: BBC News

In the BBC Newscast, Mike Cooper was the presenter. He started out direct and to the point by simply stating the name of the station and his own name and going straight to the news. The newscast was a total of 5 minutes.

The newscast was rich with political news, political figures, and natural disasters. It began with Hillary Clinton and the Chile earthquake issue. Then he moved on to Uganda landslides. Next came news about Palestinians and other stories with relevance to the Middle East. The final story broke this trend by giving a scientific story about ostrich eggs and how they were used as a form of messaging.

This newscast was very interesting for several reasons. First of all, it was very much diversified in the type of news and in the way the news was presented. There were reporters and also with some stories you could hear clips of speeches such as with the Hillary Clinton story. Not only that but the stories varied in locations so there were highlights from every part of the world, and it was stated briefly and concisely in the 5 minutes. The quality of the content was good because it was strait to the point.

The quality of the sound was very clear and easy to listen to. The only problem was when listening to part of Hillary Clinton’s speech there was some feedback that could be heard. Other than that the presenter’s voice was appropriate for the type of news presented. His accent was British but was easy to understand, and he even shifted his tone depending on how serious or not serious the story was. There was not any nat sound used, just simply parts of speeches in some of the stories. The reporter's also were clear and we could understand them. The newscast overall was not boring and it was engaging.

The varying lengths of the stories, as well as the different elements such as the different reporters and the different soundbites used gave each story its own flavor. Each of the soundbites used added more to the story because they showed the tone of the speaker, so it was more interesting to hear it directly from the source. All of the soundbites used were not too long and not too short, and they were rich with information.

Overall this newscast was very clear, conscise, and interesting.

New Age, New Time, Same Mentality

As time goes by things progress. It is inevitable that things will change, people will grow and develop and along with this growth there will be changes in the way of thinking and people’s state of mind. But as I think about it more, it seems like even though some things are progressing in Egypt, the role of women seems to be standing still. There is no doubt that women have begun to join the workforce, but the cultural and stereotypical role of women being in charge of the household and taking care of the kids still persists.

In my eyes it is unfair that men get treated by a certain standard, and women are held to a completely different standard. Something may be okay for a man to do, but if a woman did it she would risk shaming her family or she will pretty much be committing social suicide. But nothing infuriates me more than when people see it as something bad or shameful if a woman does not marry young.

Are women not just as capable as men at holding down a job and being successful? Shouldn’t she be able to choose what she wants with her life, and whether or not marriage is right for? I am not generalizing about everyone when I make this statement. I admit that there are people who have grown out of this phase and do not see it as a problem for a woman to marry late. But for some women the social pressure is too much, and they get married just to please everyone.

I know a girl who is in charge of spending for her entire household because they are so poor. She goes and works as a maid and brings home money to support her family. Despite her efforts and despite the fact that she is the only one working in the family, the men in the household and her mother think that there is something wrong with her for not being married. This poor girl is put in a position that whoever comes to propose to her she will accept no matter who he is.

There are lots of changes to be made in our society. Recognizing that women are just as important and independent as men is one of the major things that need to be changed in the mentality of the Egyptians.

University of Alabama Shooting

One of the things that caught my attention recently in the news was the shooting at the University of Alabama. This matter doesn’t just affect me because I grew up in Alabama since I was three years old, and half of the people in my graduating class attend the University, it also enrages me on a completely different level. I never understood and will never understand how a seemingly normal and ordinary person, a person with a life and a family just like any other person can suddenly decide to play God and take people’s lives.

Some reports have said that the suspected shooter is actually a faculty member at the University. This fact makes this situation even more shocking and upsetting. This woman was not just an enraged person who went temporarily insane and decided to take out whatever is going on in her life on a group of strangers. She actually worked with them; maybe even saw them on a daily basis. They were colleagues. The matter just blows my mind.

I have always wondered what goes on in these people’s minds. I wonder if they can always be held responsible for their actions, if they are aware of what they are doing. It doesn’t seem that someone who can have the heart to take away someone’s life for no reason at all can be aware of their actions. Maybe it is a spur of the moment decision; maybe something angered them so much that they couldn’t control themselves. Whatever the reason may be, I think that this sort of action is inexcusable.

Some people may think that everyone deserves a second chance and that they should not always be held accountable for their actions. I respectfully disagree. The people killed at that University did not have a second chance. They came into work just like any other day and their lives were taken. Their families do not have a second chance to be with them or see them. That is neither fair nor just and I think the person responsible should not be let of easily.

Sounds of my day

Who needs an alarm when I get to wake up to this annoying school everyday.





This is the sound of me writing, one of my favorite things to do.





One of the ways I waste my time, chatting.





This is the sound of the shower running.




My newest hobby. Yoga!

Listening Journal 1: Too Poor to Marry

The feature I listened to on World Vision Report was entitled “Too Poor to Marry” and it was by Daniel Estrin. This feature was talking about how people in Egypt were finding themselves too poor to get married, and how this causes not only frustration in their lives but also it makes them lost motivation and let go of their goals. This piece was very interesting through its presentation, its content, and the reporter’s voice and choice of language.

The feature was close to 5 minutes which could have made it boring but in fact all of the elements in it combined to make it very interesting. The topic itself would not have been as appealing had the reporter simply just spoke about it. But through all the elements used the story came to life for the listener.

This story was very interesting to listen to for many reasons. The first is the use of nat sound. While the reporter is talking we can hear a lot of the background noise to show us the reporter was on location. Both the sound of his voice and the background noise was just right, neither of which was overbearing the other. In fact, the nat sound added a lot to the story because you could hear the sounds of the café where the men sit and it made the story come to life more in the mind of the reader. Also, there was a nice use of the people’s voices because the listener could actually hear the frustration in their tone when they were talking which added a lot to the piece. I think however, he should have let some of the people who were talking in English speak more, because then we could have heard their own story in their voice which would have made a bigger impact on the listener.

The quality of the sound was very clear and pure, as was the voice of the reporter. There was no shaking or sound interference even though he was clearly in the field. He had a tone which matched the story because it was neither too enthusiastic nor too quiet and boring. It was mellow and relaxed which given this story and the content of it, it seemed to be the best tone to talk with. He put emphasis on the important parts of the story and sometimes he just let the nat sound or the background noise really come through even when he was talking and through this he created the atmosphere and set the tone of the story for the listener.

This article can be found at: http://www.worldvisionreport.org/Find-Stories/Week-of-February-13-2010/Too-Poor-to-Marry

Listening Journal 1: Fashion and Plus Sized Models

The first feature I listened to was from NPR and it was entitled “Fashion Weeks Latest Trend? Plus Size Models”. The host and a fashion editor, Robin Givhan, were the ones who were featured in this piece. It was discussing the fact that now they are using plus size models in New York Fashion week, and whether or not this was a good change from the stick thin models usually shown, or if they are still too slim compared to average women. This feature was interesting, and it had a lot f strong points but I think some things could have been added to make it even better.

The quality in terms of clarity and content of this feature was excellent. I could hear everything clearly and the volume of the speakers was just right. There was a slight problem at the beginning for me when the host began talking, I could not understand part of the first sentence that she said and it felt a little rushed but other than that the audio was very clear and sharp.

A weakness in this feature is that there was no use of nat sound at all. I think this was a weak point because it could have been easily incorporated in a piece like this, for example, if they had used sounds from the runway, or sounds of models getting ready, because these sounds would have been easily recognizable and they would have made the story more interesting. The length of this story made it easy to follow along and not get bored even though it was just two people talking, but it would have been even better to listen to had there been nat sound, even if it was a few seconds at the beginning and end.

The anchor has a good rich voice which is appropriate for a story like this. However, when though she did speak very clearly and very well and also put emphasis on important points, she sometimes over emphasized certain words such as when she kept saying plus-sized models. The guest’s voice was also appropriate and clear. It was a good choice to have a fashion expert as the guest.

All in all I think that the production of this story was carried out well from the quality all the way to the tone and use of language in the piece.

The article can be found at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123604722

First Impressions

Are first impressions really that important? I have begun to realize that we hold so much in store, and make so many judgments about people based on the impressions we get when we first meet them. But is it really fair to characterize and label and form impressions about people that we really don’t know? It seems crazy to me that we give ourselves the right to think we know a person based on what we think when we first see them.

Personally if I were to judge people based on the first impression I got of them then most of the people who are very close to me now would not even be part of my life. It seems funny to me that the people I had a very bad first impression of became my best friends. I remember the first time I met my best friend, her hair was down to her waist and she was going on and on about how she loved Ashton Kutcher and telling me details about her life, which for some reason she felt the need to share despite my obvious lack of interest. I remember thinking that I would never be friends with her and now she is like a sister to me.

So many experiences in my life have showed me that people are not always what they seem when you first meet them. I know that this is true for me. Whenever I first meet people I am usually really shy and standoffish, but it doesn’t mean that I am really like that. I think that people should be given a fair a chance, and I think that means giving them the benefit of the doubt if they do not make a great first impression.

Happiness is a choice

I believe that happiness is a choice. It is not unusual to hear people talking about their bad luck and that they are down and out. Many times it feels like the silver lining is tarnished, and that life has us beat to the point that there is nowhere left to turn. However, I believe that every situation and event that we face in our lives has a bright side that sometimes we ignore because we focus so much on the negativity. I think that happiness is something that comes when a person is content with themselves and with their own lives, no matter how green the grass may look on the other side.

I once visited a slum area in Egypt called Manshiet Nasr. People there literally live with garbage all around them, barely any food to eat, and have hardly any money to survive off of. But, as I sat watching the people there sipping their evening tea enjoying the company of their neighbors and family, it seemed that they were genuinely happy. They were content with their simple lives simply because they chose to be. Happiness for them was just having the peace of mind that they got through the day and their family is there by their side. Seeing these people I learned that happiness doesn’t have to mean having everything you want, or always having things go your way. I realized that I might not be able to shape my destiny but I can control the way I perceive it, and that everything that would make me upset or unhappy was not worth my time.

It shouldn’t take losing something to appreciate what its worth. I believe in enjoying the days we have with every blessing that has been given to us. When the hard times come, and they will come no matter how much we try to keep them away, it is important to remember that they will pass. In the end I believe that nothing matters more than a person being content and happy with their lives and finding inner peace.

Twilight Mania!!!

I have to admit that I have been sucked into the Twilight phenomena. I didn't buy into the twilight craze at first but now something about the impossible story of a girl falling in love with a vampire who at every moment is tempted to suck the life out of her has me hooked. And no, my obsession with Twilight is not just because of the hottie Robert Pattinson, although that is a major plus.

I think this newfound obsession has a lot to do with me being a hopeless romantic. After obsessing over the movie and the books with a number of my girl friends, I realized that we are all waiting for our very own Edward Cullen to come sweep us off our feet.

I think that this unrealistic thought of finding the perfect guy that will cater to your every whim is what disappoints girls when they finally realize that the guy they are with is simply just human. But a girl can dream!